Former nurse speaks out after sentencing in fatal drug error | Nightline

Summary

The video script recounts the tragic case of Radonda Vaught, a former nurse convicted of criminally negligent homicide after accidentally administering the wrong medication, leading to a patient's death. The incident at Vanderbilt Medical Center sparked a nationwide debate on the criminalization of medical errors, with many fearing the precedent it sets for healthcare workers. Despite the conviction, the family of the deceased forgave Vaught, and she was ultimately sentenced to three years of supervised probation, highlighting the complexity of assigning blame in medical mishaps.

Takeaways

• 🏡 Radanovat cherishes her peaceful life in rural Tennessee, which contrasts sharply with the turmoil she has experienced.
• 🔍 The script discusses the case of Radanovat, a former nurse accused of administering a fatal dose of the wrong medication to a patient.
• 🏥 Radanovat was a nurse at Vanderbilt Medical Center, where she made a tragic mistake that led to a patient's death.
• 🚨 The mistake was followed by criminal charges, with Radanovat being convicted of criminally negligent homicide.
• 🤔 The script raises questions about the balance between blame and responsibility in such cases.
• 💊 The error involved administering vecuronium instead of a sedative, leading to severe consequences for the patient.
• 📋 The prosecution argued that Radanovat's actions were part of 18 egregious errors that resulted in the patient's death.
• 🏥 Vanderbilt Medical Center's pharmacy system, which allowed overrides of safeguards, is implicated in the defense's argument.
• 📉 The case has sparked a nationwide debate about the criminalization of medical errors and the potential impact on the nursing profession.
• 📉 The American Nursing Association expressed concern about the verdict, fearing it sets a dangerous precedent.
• 🏆 Despite the conviction, Radanovat was sentenced to three years of supervised probation, avoiding prison time.
• 💌 Radanovat expressed a heartfelt apology and a commitment to affecting positive change in the future.

Q & A

What was the profession of Radonda Vaught before the incident?

Radonda Vaught was a former nurse at Vanderbilt Medical Center, working in the neurological intensive care unit.

What mistake did Radonda Vaught make in 2017 that led to criminal charges?

Radonda Vaught accidentally administered a powerful paralyzing drug, vecuronium, instead of a sedative to a patient named Charlene Murphy, which resulted in Charlene's death.

What was the patient's condition when Charlene Murphy was admitted to the hospital in 2017?

Charlene Murphy was admitted to the hospital for a brain injury and was ready to be discharged after a final scan, for which she needed a sedative due to nervousness about the procedure.

What was the outcome of the trial for Radonda Vaught?

The jury found Radonda Vaught guilty of criminally negligent homicide and abuse of an impaired adult.

What was the defense's argument regarding the systemic errors that contributed to the mistake?

The defense argued that Radonda Vaught's fatal mistake was made possible by systemic errors involving the hospital's pharmacy, which allowed nurses to routinely override safeguards.

What was the federal investigative report's finding after Charlene Murphy's death?

The federal investigative report outlined deficiencies found at the hospital, indicating that multiple factors had to align incorrectly for the error to occur.

What was the reaction of the American Nursing Association to the verdict?

The American Nursing Association expressed deep distress over the verdict, stating that it set a dangerous precedent and could have harmful ramifications for the profession.

What was the final sentence given to Radonda Vaught after the trial?

Radonda Vaught was sentenced to three years of supervised probation instead of jail time.

What was the public response to Radonda Vaught's case, as indicated by the petition?

A Change.org petition calling for clemency for Radonda Vaught garnered more than 200,000 signatures, indicating significant public support.

How did Radonda Vaught's case impact the perception of nursing and medical errors?

The case sparked a nationwide debate about the criminalization of honest medical mistakes and the potential for such cases to discourage people from entering or remaining in the nursing profession.

What did Radonda Vaught express at her sentencing?

Radonda Vaught made a heartfelt apology, expressing that she will always carry Charlene Murphy with her and is committed to affecting positive change.

Outlines

00:00

🏥 Medical Tragedy and Criminal Charges

The script introduces Radanovat, a former nurse living a peaceful life in rural Tennessee, who faced a life-altering event. She is accused of administering a fatal dose of the wrong medication to a patient, Charlene Murphy, which led to her death. The incident occurred at Vanderbilt Medical Center, where Radanovat was a nurse in the neurological intensive care unit. The script discusses the trial, her conviction for criminally negligent homicide, and the broader implications for nurses fearing similar legal repercussions for medical errors.

05:02

📖 Systemic Failures and Legal Battle

This paragraph delves into the complexities of the case, highlighting systemic issues within the hospital's pharmacy system that allowed for the override of safeguards. It discusses the federal investigative report that outlined deficiencies at the hospital and how these contributed to the error. The legal battle is portrayed, with Radanovat's conviction for criminally negligent homicide and abuse, and the public outcry that followed, including a petition for clemency and statements from the American Nursing Association. The healthcare system's vulnerability and the fear instilled in nurses are emphasized, culminating in Radanovat's sentencing to three years of supervised probation.

10:05

🌐 Public Response and Media Coverage

The final paragraph shifts focus to the public and media response to the case. It mentions the support group formed for Radanovat and the broader discussion about public safety and the potential chilling effect on healthcare professionals reporting errors. The paragraph concludes with a call for viewers to subscribe to the ABC News YouTube channel for more content and live event coverage, and to download the ABC News app for breaking news alerts.

Keywords

💡Scapegoat

A scapegoat is a person who is blamed for the problems or mistakes of others. In the video, Radonda Vaught, the former nurse, feels that she was made a scapegoat for the systemic issues that contributed to the medication error that led to Charlene Murphy's death. The term is used to highlight the debate over individual versus systemic responsibility for medical errors.

💡Criminally Negligent Homicide

Criminally negligent homicide is a legal term referring to a crime where a person's death is caused by another's negligence or recklessness. Radonda Vaught was charged with this crime for the accidental administration of the wrong medication. The video discusses the controversy of applying this charge to a medical error, which is typically considered a civil matter rather than a criminal one.

💡Medication Error

A medication error is a preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the health care professional. The video's central theme revolves around a medication error made by Radonda Vaught, which resulted in Charlene Murphy's death and the subsequent legal and ethical implications.

💡Systemic Errors

Systemic errors refer to mistakes or problems that are inherent in a system or process rather than being the fault of an individual. The video script mentions systemic errors in the hospital's pharmacy system that allowed nurses to routinely override safeguards, which contributed to the medication error made by Radonda Vaught.

💡Federal Investigative Report

A federal investigative report is a document produced by a government agency after an in-depth examination of an incident or issue. In the video, a 56-page federal investigative report following Charlene Murphy's death outlines deficiencies found at the hospital, which is a key piece of evidence in understanding the broader context of the medication error.

💡Health Care Heroes

The term 'health care heroes' is often used to describe medical professionals who work tirelessly and selflessly, especially in challenging situations. The video script contrasts this positive image with the negative perception that can arise when medical professionals are involved in errors or accidents, as seen with Radonda Vaught's case.

💡Sentencing

Sentencing is the process by which a judge formally imposes a sentence on a convicted person. In the context of the video, Radonda Vaught's sentencing is a pivotal moment, where she is given three years of supervised probation instead of jail time, reflecting the complexity and controversy of the case.

💡Judicial Diversion

Judicial diversion is a legal process where a person convicted of a crime is given the opportunity to avoid a criminal record if they meet certain conditions. The video mentions that the court found judicial diversion appropriate for Radonda Vaught, indicating a recognition of the unique circumstances surrounding her case.

💡Petition for Clemency

A petition for clemency is a formal request to a governing power for mercy or leniency, often in the context of a legal punishment. The video script notes a Change.org petition calling for clemency for Radonda Vaught, which garnered significant public support and highlighted the broader implications of the case for nurses and the healthcare system.

💡Nursing License Revocation

The revocation of a nursing license is an administrative action taken by a nursing board to remove an individual's legal authority to practice nursing. In the video, Radonda Vaught's nursing license was revoked following the medication error, which had a significant impact on her professional life and ability to work in the healthcare field.

💡Healthcare System

The healthcare system refers to the organizations, people, and processes designed to deliver healthcare services to individuals. The video discusses the healthcare system's vulnerability and the potential negative effects of criminalizing medical errors on nurses and the overall functioning of the system.

Highlights

Radanovat's peaceful life in rural Tennessee contrasts with the turmoil she has experienced.

The former nurse feels scapegoated by the world after a fatal medication error.

Redonda Vaught was accused of administering the wrong medication leading to a patient's death.

The trial resulted in a conviction for criminally negligent homicide, a rare outcome for a medical error.

Vaught's case has sparked a nationwide debate on the criminalization of medical errors.

The prosecution argued that 18 egregious actions and inactions led to Charlene Murphy's death.

Vaught admitted to being distracted but argued systemic errors contributed to the mistake.

A federal investigative report outlined deficiencies at Vanderbilt Medical Center.

The case raises questions about responsibility and accountability in healthcare.

The American Nursing Association expressed concern over the verdict's impact on nursing practice.

A petition for clemency for Vaught gained significant support, reflecting public concern.

The healthcare system's vulnerability is highlighted by the fear of criminal repercussions for medical errors.

Nurses express exhaustion and the pressure of a system prone to errors.

Vaught's sentencing included a heartfelt apology and a call for positive change.

The court's decision of judicial diversion and probation reflects the complexity of the case.

Vaught's case may deter people from pursuing a career in nursing due to fear of criminal charges.

The family of Charlene Murphy expressed forgiveness and opposed jail time for Vaught.

The story concludes with a call for understanding and support for nurses and the healthcare system.

Transcripts

good morning

good morning

there's a sense of peace here

a sense

of home

a sense that god's country is not just a

southern expression but something much

more

every day is a gift

every day that i get up to

and free and my home is a gift

here in her serene corner of rural

tennessee radanovat lives her small

slice of the simple life an almost

unimaginable reality from the maelstrom

that the 38 year old former nurse has

lived through

do you feel like you were a scapegoat

i think the whole world feels like i was

a scapegoat

there's a

fine line between

blame and responsibility

nothing is done in a vacuum

the trial begins for a former nurse at

vanderbilt medical center accused of

administering a fatal dose of the wrong

medication

for the past five years redonda vaught

has faced the fight of her life a former

intensive care unit nurse who in 2017

accidentally gave the wrong drug to a

patient charlene murphy causing her to

lose her life

a tragic mistake but what followed was a

whirlwind that surprised many criminal

charges and a conviction for an accident

we the jury find the defendant redonda

leanne fault guilty of criminally

negligent homicide

tonight the nurse at the center of it

all have you played this over and over

and over in your head every day

so many times over and over and over

and we went from health care heroes to

sacrificial lambs the nationwide fight

for change from the front line workers

fearing they could be next

almost every nurse has had a medication

error of some sort that could be any one

of us

did you like being a nurse

yeah you have this

this purpose to

take care of them

and you just want to do the very best

you can

it can take a lifetime for someone to

find their purpose by 2017 redondo knew

that she had found hers in the

neurological intensive care unit at

vanderbilt medical center in nashville

it's christmas time 2017. elderly woman

named charlie murphy's admitted into the

hospital for a brain injury she's

treated

soon ready to be released but needs a

final scan before she can be sent home

which requires her to have a sedative

because she was nervous about the scan

you're the nurse that's now called in to

help

when did you realize something went

wrong

it wasn't until

she had been brought back to our unit

as an intensive care patient

and a

a code had been called

in the pet scan area where she was

redonda was supposed to give charlene a

sedative versit instead she accidentally

administered a powerful paralyzing drug

vecuronium a catastrophic mistake which

caused charlene severe brain damage

her primary nurse

had approached me and

showed me the vial of medication

and asked is this what you give her and

it wasn't until that time that i

realized that it was the wrong

medication that i had given her at 75

charlene would die from that fatal dose

when you saw the vial

and you read what was on the vial

i mean what goes through your head

that

your heart goes through the floor

um

you just

well you can't even imagine vanderbilt

fired redonda but what came next shook

her to her core

after multiple investigations her

nursing license revoked and the national

district attorney charged redonda with

reckless homicide and abuse of an

impaired adult in 2019. those words

reckless reckless reckless homicide

and abuse

that's heavy

the prosecution basing its case on what

they say were 18 egregious actions and

inactions that killed charlene murphy

among them they argue was overriding the

system used to obtain drugs and ignoring

a warning directly on the vile cap we

had had to use the override function

to obtain medications this was like a

normal part of your routine having to

hit over oh you couldn't

you couldn't obtain an iv fluid without

hitting the override button va admitted

she was distracted that day because she

was escorting a trainee anytime you have

an additional responsibility

that responsibility can be distracting i

allowed myself to

split my focus

but vaz attorneys argued that her fatal

mistake was made possible by systemic

errors involving the hospital's pharmacy

which allowed nurses to routinely

override safeguards a 56-page federal

investigative report following murphy's

death also outlined deficiencies found

at the hospital

so many things had to line up

incorrectly

for this error to have happened

and

my actions were not alone in that we're

not talking about an intentional act

we're not talking about a nurse trying

to kill a patient

a medical error to lead to a criminal

charge and in particular a charge of

homicide that's very very rare i can't

think of another recent instance where

it has occurred neither the medical

center nor anyone else associated with

it face criminal consequences for the

incident abc news reached out to

vanderbilt medical center but they

declined to comment following a federal

investigation the hospital submitted a

corrective plan of action to address

some of the findings included in the

report who's responsible and what

happened here

i mean i don't nobody wants to point a

finger that's not what you're supposed

to do in health care you don't point

your finger and blame someone

you hold yourself accountable as a part

of the team and you say

what could i have done better what could

we have done better i'm responsible for

what

i failed to do

in march of this year the jury returned

a guilty verdict on the lesser charge of

criminally negligent homicide and on the

abuse charge redonda faced up to eight

years in prison

let's not forget

that redonda's freedom is at stake it

really is the straw that broke the

camel's back after everything nurses

have been through the last two plus

years

now to be charged criminally and

convicted why would anybody want to be a

nurse now a firestorm spread across the

country a change.org petition calling

for clemency for vote garnered more than

200 000 signatures the american nursing

association saying it was deeply

distressed by this verdict and the

harmful ramifications of criminalizing

the honest reporting of mistakes and

that the case set a dangerous precedent

all this a spark in an already

vulnerable health care system on the

brink of collapse we'll spend an entire

12-hour shift

not going to the bathroom

not eating not drinking enough water you

get to the end of the day and you're

just

mentally emotionally and physically

exhausted the system is set up to make

it easy for us to

make a mistake like this

nurses tina and erica came together to

form a support group for redonda i'm so

proud of each and every one of you this

is a public safety issue i don't want to

live in a world where

if i go to a hospital

the nurses and doctors that are going to

be taking care of me would be afraid to

speak up if they made a mistake while

vaught's performance fell below what the

profession kind of aims for

uh to say that if you were to make an

error like this you would face a

homicide charge and possibly years in

prison

would cause a lot of those people to

reconsider whether to stay a nurse or

whether to become a nurse

at her sentencing this month redonda

making a heartfelt apology

i would like to apologize to this

murphy's family first of all

she will never be lost in

my mind

she will

always remind me every day

of what

i need to do to be better as a person

murphy's family grieving and expressing

their lost relatives wishes

we forgive her my mother-in-law would

want her to be forgiven

and

jail time is not an option

to me

for her

court therefore finds

that

judicial diversion is appropriate

redonda vault was sentenced to three

years supervised probation abc news

reached out to the family of charlene

murphy and they declined an interview at

this time

i will always carry her with me and

if i can if i can affect a positive

change

i'm gonna do that

it is heart-wrenching

to know that

miss murphy and her family

were

so horrifically let down

they are the patient and the family that

will live with me the most

hi everyone george stephanopoulos here

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